The Boston Celtics have secured the advantage of playing all their playoff games at home. This was after their impressive 135-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 3.
Kristaps Porziņģis led the charge with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks. He received strong support from teammate Jayson Tatum, who contributed 24 points.
The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are gearing up for a showdown in the NBA Play-In Tournament. On April 17th, they'll fight it out for the East's 9th and 10th seeds.
The exact location of the game isn't confirmed yet. However, it's likely to be in Chicago since the Bulls have a slight lead, and they're the tiebreaker between the two teams.
Bulls vs. Hawks: play-in game playoff preview
The victorious team between Chicago and Atlanta will compete against the losing team from the Miami/Philadelphia game for a playoff spot. The champion of this second game has a chance to face the top-seeded Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bulls have won 2 out of 3 games against the Hawks this season, but the Hawks prevailed in their latest match with a score of 113-101. Last year, as the 10th seed, the Bulls made it to the play-in game.
They defeated Toronto but succumbed to Miami in a neck-and-neck match until the last quarter. Miami subsequently reached the NBA Finals.
The play-in game was confirmed when the 76ers defeated the Grizzlies last Saturday. This result means the Chicago Bulls can no longer surpass the Philly team to grab the No. 8 seed. Moreover, Brooklyn, currently in 11th place, is too distant to threaten the Hawks for the No. 10 seed.
Battle for the top 6 in the Eastern Conference
The Orlando Magic are currently fourth, but they're up against a challenging lineup with away games in Houston and Milwaukee and a home game with Milwaukee. The New York Knicks, who presently hold the fifth position, are struggling with a losing streak, having lost in their last three games.
Due to a peculiar scheduling circumstance, they're set to face the Chicago Bulls three times. The Miami Heat, sitting comfortably in sixth place, is on a winning streak with three consecutive wins. They have the advantage of finishing the season with two home games against the Toronto Raptors, who've suffered 53 losses this season.
The seventh-place team, the Indiana Pacers, have challenging games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers. In eighth place, the Philadelphia 76ers aren't far behind. However, their odds may improve with Joel Embiid back in the game.
Home advantage in Western Conference
The Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves will likely be the top three teams in West the. But it's uncertain what their final rankings will be. Denver has a more relaxed remaining schedule, playing four games against teams with weak records. However, they also face tough competition against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves' upcoming schedule includes two games against a rejuvenated Phoenix Suns team and away matches at Denver and Los Angeles Lakers. However, they are expected to successfully overcome the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks in their home games.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have an advantage, playing their last four games at home. However, they face a challenge as four of their final six competitors (Milwaukee, Dallas, Sacramento, Indiana) have better winning records.
Top six teams in the Western Conference
The competition is particularly intense as teams placed fifth to ninth all hold 44 or 45 wins. Dallas, having an impressive run with 11 wins out of 13 games, faces some manageable games against Detroit, Atlanta, and Charlotte. They hold a strong position to finish in the top six.
Having lost four out of their last five games, the New Orleans Pelicans are now facing a challenging four-game tour in the Western Conference. This tour includes matches against Phoenix, Sacramento, and Golden State, all of which will take place before the season's end.
Phoenix has a challenging schedule filled with potential Western Conference playoff teams. The Kings, who are missing Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter due to injuries, finish with a road trip featuring four games, followed by three home games — two against the Pelicans and Suns.
The Lakers, who have the highest number of losses among these teams, will likely face off against the Golden State Warriors in the 9/10 game.